Colt Government Model 1911A1 serial number C187380 -
A very nice 1937 1911A1 Government Model. After this gun was
sent to the British Purchasing Commission and shipped to
England, it was issued to an Norwegian naval officer, who
after the training in England, during the WWII crossed the
sea between Shetland and Norway 54 times, bringing men,
gear, guns etc to the Norwegian resistance. The red
paint on the top of the slide is a system used by the
British to show that a gun took non-standard ammunition.
Battle of Britain Colt .38 Super pistols were also marked in
this fashion. (Also
see C189723 from same shipment) Both of these pistols
were issued to the same officer when he was serving at the
MTB(MotorTorpedoBoat) "Hitra". C189723 was issued to him at
the MTB "Hessa". This naval officer is still alive and well,
living in the western parts of Norway.

Right side detail

The red paint on the top of the slide is a system used by
the British to show that a gun took non-standard ammunition.